March 2025 | Page 2 of 2

March 7, 2025

The Cinema Foundation Hosts “How Theatres are Eventizing the Moviegoing Experience” Panel at SXSW

Photo (left to right): Bryan Braunlich, The Cinema Foundation; Traci Hanlon, Cinergy Entertainment; Valarie Rico, Santikos Entertainment; Andrew Thomas, Moonstruck Drive-In.

The Cinema Foundation’s own Executive Director Bryan Braunlich moderated a standing-room only kickoff session at South by Southwest on “How Theatres are Eventizing the Moviegoing Experience” with Cinergy Entertainment’s Traci Hanlon, Santikos Entertainment’s Valarie Rico and Moonstruck Drive-In’s Andrew Thomas at the Austin Convention Center on Friday, March 7. The lively SXSW panel discussed how movie theatres of all sizes bring people together, anchor communities, and make each moviegoing experience an event. The exhibition experts talked how community involvement, local partnerships, creative loyalty programs, elevated concessions, social engagement, and in-theatre activations all contribute to the magic of the big screen and keep moviegoers coming back for more.

March 5, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, March 5, 2025

The New York Times: French Cinema Leads the Way to a Revival of In-Person Moviegoing

Mr. Henrard noted that France’s “cultural exception” model supports the moviegoing habit, with an education curriculum that includes subsidized trips to the movies for millions of schoolchildren.

The government supports tiny movie houses in smaller cities, while some of the most isolated villages regularly receive visits from associations that set up temporary screenings in schools and city halls.

France requires first-run movies to screen exclusively in French theaters for four months before going to video, and the CNC oversees a complex system of taxes on tickets and fees from TV channels and video streaming services that filters back into movie production.

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March 4, 2025

Headlines Newsletter, March 4, 2025

Academy Awards

Variety: Oscars Hit 19.7 Million Viewers, Up 1% From Last Year

Nielsen’s finalized reporting of Sunday’s Oscars telecast has brought the total from 18.1 to 19.7 million viewers. Rather than a 7% decrease from last year’s show, this indicates a 1% increase.

Per ABC, the discrepancy came from a significant portion of younger viewers tuning in via mobile devices and personal computers, which were not represented in Nielsen’s fast national data. The new total is a five-year high for the Oscars in both total viewers and rating among adults age 18-49, which rose from 3.92 to 4.54, a 19% improvement on last year’s 3.82.

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Release Schedule

Variety: Celine Song’s ‘Materialists,’ Starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, Sets June Release Date“Materialists,” Celine Song‘s all-star follow up to her two-time Oscar-nominated directorial debut “Past Lives,” has been given a U.S. release date by A24. The film is set to launch in theaters nationwide on June 13, a slot that could spark rumours that the company is eyeing a world premiere in Cannes a month earlier.Written, directed and produced by Song, who reunites with “Past Lives” producer David Hinojosa of 2AM and Killer Films, “Materialists” stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. The rom-com follows a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker who finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.

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March 3, 2025

Cinema United Congratulates The Team Behind “Anora” For Making Oscar History

“Over the years, Sean Baker has been an unwavering champion for the theatrical experience, and we congratulate him and his team, as well as our friends at NEON on their well-deserved Oscar wins tonight.” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of the Cinema United. “Sean’s passion for movies on the big screen resonates with moviegoers around the world. We cannot wait to see what he dreams up next, and when he does, everyone in theatrical exhibition will be standing at the ready to help movie fans see it as intended – on a big screen.”

Per Variety, Baker set a new Oscar record:

“Anora” director Sean Baker has become the first person to win four Oscars in the same year for the same film.

During Sunday’s ceremony, Baker and “Anora” won Oscars for original screenplay, film editing, directing and best picture. With the wins, Baker ties another famous filmmaker: Walt Disney. But while Disney won four Oscars in the same night in 1953, it was for four different films (“The Living Desert,” “The Alaskan Eskimo,” “Bear Country” and “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom”). Disney was also nominated that year for “Ben and Me” and “Rugged Bear.”